Remote desktop software.

[Poppa_Meth]

At the business I work for, we've been running GoToMyPC for the past year. I'm not renewing it for $180 a year as we don't use it that much. One machine is running XP Pro so we could use the built in remote access but it seems buggy to me. Even on the local LAN it has refresh issues despite my settings. I've heard of a few other free ones like VCN. Is there anything in particular you guys have experience with and would recommend, preferably freeware?

[Baldrick]

I use winxp pro built in remote desktop and it has always worked fine...even from slow mobile connections.

I have tested http://www.tightvnc.com/ and it worked pretty well also.

[liquid217]

tightvnc is excellent for server pcs that I need to access from time to time, but it really doesn't help me when i need to assist a customer with a problem on their pc.
A solution for that is UltraVNC SC (single click). It is a small standalone application that the customer can run. When they activate it, it connects to a listener at my office. Its an excellent alternative to WebEx or GotoMyPC.
http://www.uvnc.com/addons/singleclick.html

[Poppa_Meth]

Thanks for the input I'll check into those. I'll also experiment with XP Pro's built in client a bit more. Every time I try to use it, it resizes the desktop on the host computer for some reason. Leaves my icons in the wrong places.

[oldandinthe way]

http://www.remotelyanywhere.com/

I've used this in the past and it works, even on dialup. Not freeware, Workstation edition is about $100.

[ViRaL1]

Have you tried dropping your RDC settings down to DialUp?

[srenaud]

TightVNC is good but you have to know what you are doing.

I use www.logmein.com the free client is enough for most applications.

[Soopafresh]

Logmein is supposed to be pretty good.

I use UltraVNC daily to support remote clients.

[lordsmurf]

VNC and then use Windows XP RDP. Works great.

[jimmalenko]

Thanks for the input I'll check into those. I'll also experiment with XP Pro's built in client a bit more. Every time I try to use it, it resizes the desktop on the host computer for some reason. Leaves my icons in the wrong places.

There's a range of settings you can change; just click on the Options button and then the Display tab:



I also use TightVNC for both work and play and find it to be great in those situations where I want to run something "live" on the machine itself (as opposed to within a remote desktop session). But WinXP's remote desktop works fine also.

[winifreid]

I used this http://www.realvnc.com/ a long time ago. It is free and worked well, even with a dialup connection.

[Robert Simandl]

Hmm, are there any freeware programs like this that don't require going through the internet? I have a server in the basement that I'd like to control from upstairs (just lazy, I guess). All the apps of this type I've looked at require going through the internet. Are there any that can just work through a local LAN?

Thanks...

[Poppa_Meth]

Thanks for all the input. I'll check out the built in RD a bit more thoroughly and see what I want to do from there.

[winifreid]

Look at this for use with a lan:
http://www.tightvnc.com/faq.html